As the Subaru XV and Holden Astra sedan models are about to be available in Australia ANCAP has awarded them each the maximum possible rating of 5 stars.
Both cars were tested across a range of possible crash scenarios, including frontal, side and rear-end crashes, and both passed with flying colours.
The Subaru XV, which had anticipated the full 5-star rating, achieved an almost flawless overall score of 35.80 out of 37 for all variants.
In the pedestrian protection testing the XV received no deductions and achieved the highest possible rating ‘Good’ as well as for the whiplash rating which was again rated ‘Good’.
The Holden Astra sedan wasn’t far behind the Subaru XV with an overall score of 34.94 out of 37.
The pedestrian protection rating for the Astra sedan was only rated ‘Acceptable’ but the whiplash rating was ‘Good’.
The lower rating for the Holden Astra sedan, in part, is due to the lack of autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Mr James Goodwin commented: “It is disappointing autonomous emergency braking is not available across the board on two new models and we continue to encourage consumers to ask for, and brands to offer, this potentially life-saving technology.”
The Subaru XV does offer autonomous emergency braking on higher variants but it is not a standard inclusion on the base variant.
From next year the requirements to achieve a 5-star ANCAP safety rating will require all new models to have an effective AEB system fitted as standard.
Let’s start a Car Conversation, should more life-saving technology be required as standard equipment to achieve a 5-star ANCAP safety rating or are the requirements too strict?
